8/18/13

RUSSIAN ATHLETES KISS IN PROTEST


Two female Russian athletes have kissed on the winner's podium in protest at the government's anti-gay propaganda law.
Kseniya Ryzhova and Tatyana Firova had just won gold in the 4x400 metres relay at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.
It comes a day after Russian athlete Yelena Isinbayeva claimed she was "misunderstood" when she apparently spoke out in support of her country's controversial new laws on homosexuality.
Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, 31, made her comments after other athletes made statements and gestures - including painting their nails in rainbow colours - opposing the Russian law.
The new legislation, which makes it illegal to give under-18s information about homosexuality, has led to calls for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
"It's disrespectful to our country, disrespectful to our citizens because we are Russians," Isinbayeva told a news conference - in English - after Swedish athlete high jumper Emma Green-Tregaro criticised the law.
"Maybe we are different than European people and people from different lands."
However, a day later, Isinbayeva suggested she was misunderstood because English is not her first language.


No comments:

Post a Comment